Pak not doing enough : Western diplomats

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Dec.28 (PTI) The US and Britian have given
to Pakistan "clinching evidence" of involvement of elements
within the country in the Mumbai terror attacks but has been
dismayed over Pakistan's pussyfooting and not doing enough.

Intercepts of satellite and mobile conversations
between the attackers in Mumbai and the Pakistan-based
elements guiding them, were handed over to Islamabad by the
two countries.

Western diplomats believe Islamabad has "not done
enough" in terms of acting on the intelligence given to it
and want those behind the november 26 strikes to be prosecuted
in a transparent manner.

British and American investigators have amassed a
large amount of technical and human intelligence that was also
subsequently passed on to Pakistan, Western diplomatic sources
told PTI.

Sleuths from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation,
who were given access to Amjal Amir Iman, the lone gunman
captured during the attacks, were convinced he is a Pakistani
national and that the terrorist strike was planned and
coordinated by elements in Pakistan.

The sources said the most clinching evidence on the
involvement of Pakistani elements was provided by the British
authorities. In fact, British intelligence operatives were so
convinced of the Pakistani links to the attack that they did
not take up an offer to question Iman alias Ajmal Kasab,
sources said.

American investigators also played a key role in
extracting details of calls made by the terrorists in Mumbai
to their LeT handlers in Pakistan by using sophisticated
technology to examine burnt and damaged cellular phones.

These phones, which were damaged in gun battles between
the terrorists and security forces, were provided to the FBI
team by Indian law enforcement agencies, they said.

Nine of the ten terrorists who struck Taj and Oberoi
hotels besides Nariman House and CST station were gunned down
while Kasab was arrested.

Among the Pakistani handlers was Lashker-e-Taiba's
operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who was detained
during a raid by the military in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on
December 7. Lakhvi's current whereabouts are not known.

Western intelligence agencies have backed India's
contention that Lakhvi planned and coordinated the November 26
attacks.

However, a report in The News daily today quoted
Pakistani intelligence sources as saying that the intelligence
shared by the Western powers was not evidence that would
"stand up in court".

They claimed Iman's confession could have been
"obtained under duress" and is "not admissible in a trial".
Thus the confession could not be the "basis of any proceedings
against (Iman) or others from Pakistan".

Western concerns have also been exacerbated following
reports that Pakistan was continuing to withdraw troops
engaged in anti-Taliban operations from its troubled
northwestern tribal belt for possible redeployment on the
border with India. PTI